The UTJ party convened on Monday for a meeting ahead of the upcoming votes on the state budget and the recruitment law and made a decision that if no significant progress is made in advancing the recruitment law during the Knesset’s upcoming summer session, the party will stop automatically voting with the coalition. MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Finance Committee, did not physically attend the meeting but participated via Zoom and clarified his position: “If we do not see significant progress – we will stop voting automatically with the coalition,” he said. MK Yitzchak Pindrus concluded the discussion on a positive note: “Yesterday we saw the gathering of the Gedolei Yisrael. If there is a chance to succeed — it is only through the strength of unity.” Also on Monday, Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf sent a letter to Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs announcing his resignation from his position as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. Following the meeting of Gedolei Yisrael on Sunday evening, HGaon HaRav Dov Landau, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and the Gerrer Rebbe, Minister Goldknopf announced his resignation from a position he held solely for the purpose of advancing the conscription law. “As you know, prior to the establishment of the government, at the instruction of my Rabbanim,” Goldknopf wrote, “it was agreed that I would hold the position of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office as a guarantee for promoting the law regulating the status of lomdei Torah. Last night, the UTJ leadership convened and took upon itself the responsibility for continuing to advance this issue. In light of this, I hereby return the guarantee and submit my resignation from the position of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.” Goldknopf clarified that it was only a partial resignation: “In light of the agreements among the Gedolei Yisrael, I would like to clarify that I will continue to serve as Minister of Construction and Housing.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)